Messages from the President & CEO
Join Us, and Make a Difference
Happy Holidays! No matter your cultural or religious traditions, this time of year naturally calls to mind a spirit of generosity, and making a contribution to improve the lives of others.
At Hillside, that spirit is with us year-round. Our mission is embraced by the entire Hillside community—by our programmatic teams and even in “support” areas such as facilities, food service or finance, to name only a few. No matter their job title, everyone at Hillside plays a vital role in helping children, adults and families achieve their goals of a healthier, happier future.
Our positive impact starts with our people—and I encourage you to consider joining Hillside today.
As you’ll note in our Careers section, Hillside is hiring! Our diverse positions offer flexible scheduling possibilities as well as competitive pay and benefits. We understand the importance of work-life balance, and we do all we can to support our employees as people, not just workers.
People ask me, What are the benefits of working at Hillside? First and foremost, it’s making a difference in the lives of children and families, each and every day. Joining our family brings countless opportunities and rewards, starting with the privilege of helping those in need.
Please consider starting the New Year with a new and exciting career. All of us at Hillside wish you and your family a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.
A ‘Special’ Community Tradition
For my first message, I’d like to note the kickoff of an annual Hillside tradition. Each year at this time, we launch Special Santa —a remarkable effort that unites every Hillside program, and the generosity of individuals and businesses throughout the regions we serve.
Too many young people who participate in Hillside programs live at or below the poverty line. For these children and their siblings, holiday gifts can be rare or non-existent. No matter your cultural or religious background, we can all agree that every child deserves the joy of unwrapping a toy or gift at a special time of year.
For nearly 40 years, Special Santa has made that possible. Last year alone, donations put more than 6,500 gifts into the hands of over 4,000 young people served by Hillside. It’s a powerful act of community good will—and this year, with your help, we’ll make that magic happen again.
While you’re visiting our site today, I hope you’ll take a look at how the all-online Special Santa program works. And before you leave this page, please consider exploring the other sections of this new Hillside Strong area of hillside.com. Hillside is a dynamic agency, and we can’t wait to share our story with you.
Hillside President & CEO Issues Statement on Daniel Prude Grand Jury Finding
In response to reports earlier this week of a result in grand jury proceedings in the death of Daniel Prude, Hillside President & CEO Maria Cristalli shared the message below with staff:
Eleven months ago, Rochester Police Department officers responded to a call involving a man experiencing a mental health crisis named Daniel Prude. One week later, he died after being hospitalized as a result of what occurred during that call.
Yesterday, a grand jury chose not to indict any of the officers involved in that incident. I know I’m not alone in my heartbreak and frustration over this news.
In Rochester and around the country, stories have become staggeringly common of people of color who face terrible and disproportionate outcomes following police interventions. A few nights ago, a young Black man in Texas was arrested while simply walking home from work. And of course, just last month a 9-year-old Rochester girl was pepper-sprayed by police during another non-violent call for assistance.
Protests in Rochester re-emerged last night in response to the grand jury’s decision. Thankfully the protests were peaceful, but they nonetheless reflected a community’s pain, and a need for accountability that remains out of reach.
We can’t bring Daniel Prude back, or erase the trauma experienced by that 9-year-old girl. But we can fight back against the systemic racism that makes these acts possible. Hillside will continue to advocate with local and state authorities for structural change in how mental health services are integrated into police response protocols. And within the Hillside community, it’s inspiring to see the consistently strong—and growing—engagement among so many of you concerning these issues.
I implore you: Stay engaged. Keep talking. Do not lose hope. We can make a difference, together.
Maria Cristalli
President & CEO
Hillside
“Change can begin with a single act”: A Message From Hillside President & CEO Maria Cristalli
Maria Cristalli, Hillside’s President and Chief Executive Officer, today shared an open letter with employees concerning a January 29 incident in the City of Rochester. Her message is shared below.
Dear Hillside Colleagues,
Last Friday afternoon, a 9-year-old Rochester child was handcuffed and pepper-sprayed by police during a response to a nonviolent mental health call. As a member of the Hillside family and as a human being, I am deeply troubled by this heartbreaking incident.
No child should ever be treated this way. Children in distress deserve compassion, support and empathy. This incident is another painful example of the need for sweeping changes in behavioral health services. Hillside has a responsibility to be part of a sincere and action-oriented community conversation on reform.
Additionally, the systemic racism tied to this incident can’t be overlooked. We all understand the linkages between race and a lack of access to vital mental health services. Individually and as an organization, we must stand against all forms of racism and oppression, and support like-minded efforts to do the same.
Hillside leaders have reached out to the newly formed Person in Crisis team at the City of Rochester to offer our support and assistance in working with children experiencing behavioral health challenges. We will also connect with the facilitators of Crisis Intervention Team training to offer assistance on crisis prevention/de-escalation strategies for children.
Complex multigenerational problems can’t be solved overnight, but our work shows us every day that change can begin with a single act. The children and families of the communities we serve—and of all communities—deserve our best efforts.
Maria Cristalli
President and CEO
Hillside
Hillside Encourages Participation in National Day of Service
Maria Cristalli, Hillside President and Chief Executive Officer, released the following message to all staff today:
Dear Hillside Colleagues,
Two occasions next week are significant for all Americans. On Monday, our country will observe Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, honoring the civil rights leader who was one of the most influential voices in American history. Two days later, the inauguration of Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice President will mark another historic moment. As the first woman and the first person of color to become Vice President, Senator Harris will have shattered a barrier that once was considered unbreakable.
To celebrate Dr. King’s life and work, the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect have partnered with AmeriCorps to create a National Day of Service on January 18. More details are available at https://bideninaugural.org/day-of-service, including examples of simple ways in which we all can take action and help others. Other useful links are included at the end of this message.
As part of the Hillside family, each of you already contributes significantly, every day, to the health and welfare of your community. Still, there could be no better tribute to Dr. King’s legacy than a thoughtful extra effort that underscores our passion for helping others. I hope you will join me in volunteering and being virtually involved in service to our communities.
Thank you for your commitment to the youth and families we serve, and to the communities we all call home.
Maria Cristalli
President and CEO
Hillside
Other links:
https://www.mobilize.us/nationaldayofservice
https://www.mobilize.us/colorofchange
https://americorps.gov/join/find-volunteer-opportunity